STAND. COM. REP. NO. 90

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 968

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Culture, Arts & International Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 968 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the University of Hawaii Pamantasan Council for three full-time equivalent academic and support services specialist positions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawai‘i Pamantasan Executive Committee; Filipino Community Center, Inc.; Hawaii Friends of Civil Rights; Filipinos for Affirmative Action; Samahang Filipino Club at Hawai‘i Community College; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that the Pamantasan Council was established in l987 to address Filipinx representation and success on campus and ensure that Filipinx American and Philippine courses are represented in the curriculum. Your Committee further finds that the Pamantasan Council has no budget and is a volunteer organization of University of Hawaii students, staff, faculty, and administrators who are committed to access and diversity issues. This measure would fund positions for the Council to continue positively impacting student recruitment, engagement, retention, and success.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Higher Education & Technology and your Committee on Finance, should they deliberate on this measure, to consider a total appropriation amount of $310,000, which includes $70,000 for each of three full-time equivalent positions and $100,000 for operating costs.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Culture, Arts & International Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 968, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 968, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Higher Education & Technology.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Culture, Arts & International Affairs,

____________________________

ADRIAN K. TAM, Chair